Head and shoulder support for caskets.



T. w. GOUGHLIN. HEAD AND SHOULDER SUPPOBT' FOB GASKETS.

APPLIOATIOH FILED we. 25, 1910. I 985,512, Patented Feb. 28, 1911.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

1 T. w. 0011111111111. V HEAD AND SHOULDER SUPPORT FOR. QASKETS. APVPLIUQTIIOK FILED AUG. 26, 1910-.

. Pzitented Feb. 28, 1911.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

m5 NORRIS PEIERS co., m snmoToN, n. C.

UNITED srarns pgrnnr oninon.

THOMAS W. GOUGHLIN, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK.

HEAD AND SHOULDER SUPPORT FOR GASKETS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 28, 1911.

Application filed August 25, 1910. Serial No. 578,917.

To all whom itma'y concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS W. Gonorr- LIN, of Rochester, in the county of Monroe and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Head and Shoulder Supporters for Casket-s; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being hadto the accoi'npanyiug drawings,forming a part of this specification, and to thereference-numerals marked thereon.

My present invention relates to improve ments in an adjustable head and shoulder supporter for caskets and has for itsobject to provide such a device of this character adapted to be applied to any casket, which can be readily adjusted to support the head and upper portion of a body in any desired position.

To these and other ends the invention consists in-certain improvements and combina tions ofparts all as will be hereinafter more fully described, the novel features being pointed out-in the claims at the end of the specification.

' In'the drawings: Figure l is-a side elevation of a head and shoulder supporter constructed in accordance with my invention showing it in its lowermost position; Figs. 2 and 3 are similar views showing it in other positions of adjustment; Fig. 1' is an enlarged top plan view of the head and shoulder supporter with the parts in the position shown in Fig. 2 and with port-ions broken, away; Fig. 5-is a perspective view ofthe frameworkof the head and shoulder supporter; Fig; Gis a sectional view on the line 66 of Fig. 4, and Fig. 7 is a sideelevation showing the rest folded for shipping purposes.

Similar-reference numerals in the several figures indicate similar parts.

A- head and shoulder supporter constructed in accordance with my invention embodies lower body supporting and upper head supporting members'A and B and preferably constructed with wire frames, on which are secured covers of sheet material, such as wire netting. In the present embodiment the frame member A consists of the side bars 1 connected by the transversely extending portion 2 and looped at their free ends to form bearings 3 receiving a transverse portion 4 of a securing device. The latter is preferably made of wire, the ends of which are bent first at right angles to form the outwardly extending portions 5, projecting substantially in line with the side bars of the member A, and then downwardly to provide the ends 6 which may be secured to the bottom of a casket. To facilitate this operation, the ends (5 are sharpened permitting them to be driven into the wooden bot tomof the casket, the portions 5 affording ample surface for the ready application of a hammer. I

The side bars 1 near the connecting bar 2 are formed into upwardly extending open loops or bearings which receive the cross piece 8 of the elevating member which is preferably made of a. single piece of wire. bent at right angles to the portion 8 at 9. to form handles 10 bent as shown, then coiled at 11 around the cross piece 8, their free ends 12 extending in an opposite direction to that of the handles 10 to form legswhich are sharpened to engage the bottom of the casket without slipping.

A covering 13 of any suitable material may be supported on the frame and in the illustrations I have shown a metallic netting secured thereto by turning down the edges 14; over the sides 1 and securing it thereto at one end by loops of wire 15, and at the other end by engaging'the netting beneath the portion 8 of the elevating member, which is in turn prevented from disengagement with the loops 7 In adjusting the supporter or rest the handles 10 may be grasped and the device with the body placed thereon, may be lifted to the desired position when the sharpened ends of the legs 12 will engage the bottom of the casket, as shown in Figs. 2 and- 3. If it is desired to lower the body the handles' lO are grasped and the device raised sufficiently to allow the legs 12 to be folded against it, after which the supporter may be lowered.

The frame of the upper head supporting member B consists of'the sides 16 looped at their free ends to form bearings 17, around the portion 8, and at their other ends bent downwardly and then upwardly to form legs 18 which are connected by the portion 19. The legs 18 engage the bottom of the casket when the member is in its lowermost posi tion and support the member B at the desired angle (Fig. 1) but when the member A is raised, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, its transversely extending portion 2 engages the sides 16 of the head rest member B and the two then move together. A covering 20, similar to the covering 13', is secured to the upper frame by turning down flanges 21 over the sides 16 and engaging one end in the loops 17 and the other edge by loops of wire 22.

The arrangement of the cover 18 of the member A beneath the transverse portion 2 and the cover 20 of the member B in a plane below the upper surface of the said transverse portion results in offsetting the pivotal axis above the surface of the member A a greater distance than it is offset below the surface of the member B, and enables the upper member to be folded back upon the lower member, as shown in Fig. 7, thus making the supporter more compact for ship ping purposes.

By making the frame work and operating parts of wire I produce a very simple and inexpensive device, light in weight and capable of ready attachment to any casket. The adjustments desired may be readily made and in all positions the head and shoulder supporter is securely held.

I claim as my invention 1. A head and shoulder supporter for caskets consisting of body and head members hinged together, the former member having devices for supporting it in inclined position, and a stop portion carried by one of the members and engaging the other for causing the elevation of the head rest member when the body member is raised.

2. A head and shoulder supporter for caskets consisting of two members hinged together, the lower member having devices for supporting it at various angles of inclination, legs carriedby the upper member for giving it a predetermined inclination when the lower member is in its lowermost position, and a stop carried by one-of the ber embodying a frame having side portions adapted to he engaged by the connecting portion of the lower member, and provided at their ends with bearings through which passes the transverse portion of the elevating member.

4. In a head and shoulder supporter for 5. In a head and shoulder supporter for I caskets, the combination with a supporting member, embodying a frame having the side portions provided with open bearings, of an elevated member having a transverse portion extending through the bearings and a cover secured to the frame and engaging the transverse portion of the elevating member on the side thereof toward which the bearings open to hold it therein.

6. In a head and shoulder supporter-for caskets, the combination with a supporting member having bearings at one end, of a securing member having a transverse portion passing through the bearings and extending beyond the supporting member and having its extremities projecting forwardly and adapted to be secured to the bottom of the casket.

7. In a head and shoulder supporter for caskets, the combination with a body supporting member and a head supporting member pivoted thereto, of an extension on one of the members beyond their pivotal connection for engaging with the other member.

S. In a head and shoulder supporter for caskets, the combination with a body supporting member and a head supporting member, .of an offset pivotal connection between them, said offset extending at one side of the plane of the upper side of one of the members to allow said members to be folded against each other.

9. In a head and shoulder supporter for caskets, the combination with a support adapted to be secured at one end to the bottom of a casket, and provided with bearings,

of an elevating member consisting of a rod having a transverse portion, handles formed at the ends of the transverse portion, the free ends of the rod beyond said handles being coiled around the transverse portion and extended in a. direction opposite to that of the handles to form legs.

10. A head and shoulder supporter f r caskets comprising a body supporting mem- I pivoted in axial alinement With the pivots bet and a head suppol'tn'lg member plvoted ot the supportmg members and adapted to thereto, cooperatlng portlons on the two hold them 111 adpisted posmon.

members adapted to operatively engage and THOMAS W. CO UGHLIN. 5 act as stops to determine the relative posi- \Vitnesses:

tions of the members when the body mel'n- RUSSELL B. GRIFFITH,

bet is elevated, and an elevating member FLORENCE E. FRANGK.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, I). G. 

